What Is a Performing Arts School? Examples and Tips

What is an example of a performing arts school?

Dr. Verna Benjamin Lambert

A performing arts school is a school that teaches music, dance, drama or theater as a core part of the day, usually alongside regular academics. Well known examples include The Juilliard School in New York City, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan, Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and DeKalb School of the Arts here in metro Atlanta.

Those names cover teens and adults. But performing arts schooling can start much earlier than most parents expect, and for young children it looks very different from an audition based conservatory. Here's how the whole picture fits together.

What is a performing arts school?

At its simplest, a performing arts school treats the arts as a main subject instead of an extra. Students still learn reading, math and science, but they also train regularly in one or more of the performing arts:

Music: singing, instruments, rhythm and music reading
Dance: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern and other styles
Drama and theater: acting, speaking, storytelling and stagecraft
Musical theater: a blend of singing, acting and dance

What sets these schools apart is time and structure. In a typical school, art or music might happen once a week. In a performing arts school, arts classes are built into the schedule and students perform for real audiences several times a year.

What does "performing arts" mean?

The performing arts are art forms that a person performs live in front of an audience, using their voice, body or an instrument. That's what separates them from the visual arts (like painting or sculpture), where the finished work is an object instead of a performance.

What are some examples of performing arts schools?

Performing arts schools range from world famous conservatories to local public magnet schools. Here are four real examples, each a different type.

The Juilliard School (New York City). Juilliard is a private conservatory at Lincoln Center that trains students in dance, drama and music. It was founded in 1905, and its Pre-College Division offers Saturday training for students roughly ages 8 to 18 who pass an audition.

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (New York City). LaGuardia is one of New York City's specialized public high schools. According to the NYC public schools admissions page, students apply by audition or portfolio in areas like vocal music, instrumental music, dance, drama, technical theater and fine art, and the school also looks at academic records.

Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan). Interlochen sits near Traverse City and runs Interlochen Arts Academy, a year round arts boarding school that pairs college preparatory academics with intensive arts training. It also runs a well known summer arts camp with divisions starting in grade 3.

DeKalb School of the Arts (metro Atlanta). Closer to home, DeKalb School of the Arts is a DeKalb County Schools magnet program for grades 9 to 12. Admission includes auditions, and students study areas such as drama, dance, vocal and instrumental music and visual arts.

What types of performing arts schools are there?

Not every performing arts school is a selective high school or college. The table below shows the main types and the ages each one usually serves.

Type of performing arts school	Typical ages	Example
College or university conservatory	18 and up	The Juilliard School (New York City)
Youth conservatory or Saturday program	About 8 to 18	Juilliard Pre-College Division
Public arts magnet high school	About 14 to 18	LaGuardia High School (NYC), DeKalb School of the Arts (Atlanta area)
Arts boarding school and summer camp	Grade 3 through high school	Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan)
After school performing arts program	Elementary and up	Local studios and school based programs
Performing arts preschool	Infants through early grade school	Benjamin Preparatory School (Vinings, Atlanta)

Most of these programs start in the tween or teen years and ask for an audition. A performing arts preschool doesn't. It meets children where they are, with no tryouts and no pressure to be "good" at anything yet.

Can young children attend a performing arts school?

Yes, though it looks nothing like Juilliard. For babies, toddlers and preschoolers, performing arts schooling is about moving, singing, listening and pretending every single day. There's no audition, no competitive casting and no expectation that a 3 year old will master a skill. The goal is exposure, joy and steady growth.

Honestly, most young children don't need a specialized arts school. A loving, well run early learning program will serve many kids well. Where a performing arts preschool shines is for families who want the arts woven into the regular school day instead of squeezed into weekend classes, and for kids who light up when there's music in the room. If you want the research behind that, our post on how the performing arts help young children grow walks through the benefits by age.

Is there a performing arts program for school age kids?

Yes. For children who've outgrown preschool, Benjamin Prep offers an after school performing arts program with after school and private sessions available for kids up to age 12. In our experience, it's a good fit for families whose children want to keep dancing, singing and performing after the regular school day ends.

How do I choose a performing arts school for my child?

Start with your child's age and temperament, then ask a few practical questions:

Is there an audition? For young children, the answer should be no.
How often do arts classes happen? Daily or several times a week is different from once a month.
Do children perform? Stage time builds confidence, but it should feel fun, not stressful.
Are academics still strong? The arts should support learning, not replace it.

Frequently asked questions

What is an example of a performing arts school?

The Juilliard School in New York City is the best known example. Others include LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and DeKalb School of the Arts in metro Atlanta. For young children, a performing arts preschool like Benjamin Preparatory School is another type.

What age can a child start at a performing arts school?

It depends on the type of school. Most conservatories and arts magnet high schools start in the teen years and require auditions. A performing arts preschool can start in infancy, and Benjamin Prep serves children from 6 weeks old through 2nd grade.

Is a performing arts school only for kids who want to be performers?

No. Many children in performing arts programs never pursue a stage career. For young kids especially, the value is in building confidence, coordination, listening skills and a love of music and movement.

Is there a daycare with music and arts near Vinings?

Yes. Benjamin Preparatory School in Vinings is a Christian preschool and daycare with daily music and dance, including tap, ballet, hip hop and liturgical dance. Infants start with music and movement, and older preschoolers perform in two original productions each year.

Is Benjamin Preparatory School the right fit for your family?

If you want your child to grow up with music, dance and the stage as a normal part of school instead of a once a week extra, Benjamin Prep was built for exactly that.

Benjamin Preparatory School is a Christian preschool and daycare in the Vinings area of Atlanta at 2445 Church Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339, serving children from 6 weeks old through 2nd grade. Each school day blends faith, STEAM+ academics and daily performing arts like tap, ballet, music and drama, and a whole foods menu is included. Families in Vinings, Smyrna, Cumberland, Mableton and northwest Atlanta choose Benjamin Prep so their children can grow in faith, learning and confidence in one place. Families driving in from Marietta or Kennesaw are welcome too, and a tour is the easiest way to see whether the commute and the fit work for you.

Schedule a tour of our Vinings campus, get directions, see our programs by age, or call (770) 436-5200 to talk with our team.

About the author: Dr. Verna Benjamin-Lambert

Dr. Verna R. Benjamin-Lambert, known to families as "Dr. Benji," is the founder of Benjamin Preparatory School, which she started as The Benjamin Preschool of Academic and Performing Arts in Smyrna, Georgia. She holds a doctorate in education leadership from Nova Southeastern University and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Teachers' College in Jamaica. Before founding the school, she served as an administrator in a Georgia school system, where she advocated for students who were falling behind academically.

Dr. Benji is also an author. Her book Health Intelligence: The Path to a Healthier You looks at the core issues behind childhood obesity, and her Healthy Benji children's books help young readers build healthy eating habits. One belief guides every classroom at Benjamin Prep: "Every child has a soul, and every soul has a purpose."

Meet Dr. Benji and browse her books.